We awoke to the effects of an ice storm here in central Missouri, not the best way to start a New Year. Scattered power outages have been reported but our luck is holding so far; just icy trees, slippery walkways and frozen vehicles.
A winter storm, moving eastward to our south, is the culprit, sweeping Gulf moisture over sub-freezing air that had settled across the Midwest. Since the cold air is very shallow, the precipitation has reached the ground as rain, freezing on trees, power lines, bridges and unheated structures. As the storm continues to move eastward, the ice storm will stretch from northern Illinois to Pennsylvania; here in Missouri, the cold air will deepen and the freezing rain will change to sleet and then to snow.
Ice storms, especially common across the Southern States in winter, are among the more dangerous weather systems, often causing widespread power outages and treacherous roadways. Snow is almost always a preferable form of precipitation and we plan to wait until afternoon before venturing out. When it comes to dealing with dangerous weather, patience is the best approach.
